Sabatoge
I can't force you to read this note, but
if I could, I would.
Because this email reveals THE 'secret key'
to a successful 2009 for you and your life and
your health and fitness.
And it doesn't involve buying a thing. There's
nothing for 'sale' here...
...except a philosophy...a strategy...a way of
being, doing and having a better life for yourself,
and those you love.
That's my only objective - to 'sell' you on a
simple 'mind-shift.'
My wife has always been a "rescuer." Maybe that's
why she ended up with me?! Anyway, that means we
tend to end up with an assorted array of "creatures"
around the house, reptiles, bunnies, birds...that, but
for my wife, would most likely face an unfortunate and
early death (perhaps I am included in that!).
Anyway, that means we've had our share of dogs (of the
mutt variety), in the house. If you've ever had puppies,
you know that house training can sometimes be tough.
We had one particular pair, one a Labrador/Great Dane
mix ("Bear") and the other a Beagle mix we called
"Gizmo" (that explains a lot).
On more than one occasion, we were forced to
shove Gizmo's nose into the carpet where he'd
just peed and say, "NO!" Then we'd put Gizmo
in his crate for an hour, while Bear got to roam
around the house and play.
This went on for quite a while. I forget how long,
but I remember how difficult it was to get him trained,
especially compared to Bear, who seemed to catch on
right away.
Gizmo was either stubborn, lazy or stupid, despite
having Bear as a role model. He saw how good Bear's
life was because he did one thing right - took care of
his 'business' outside.
And Gizmo's life in those early days was not nearly
as good - because he didn't.
You'd think he'd catch on - quick - but for whatever
reason he continued to sabotage the quality of his
life, he continued to spend twice as much time in
the crate as Bear.
I can relate to Gizmo (and I'm not talking about my
potty training). But in my early days, I was stubborn,
not so much lazy as unfocused, and stupid about one
thing - THE thing. And like Gizmo, I had no excuse
because there were plenty of role models for me.
Then I was "rescued" by my wife, Jill...
but that's another
story.
The point is, it was just blatant self-sabotage.
BEWARE THE SABOTEUR (IT'S YOU)
Why do we do it to ourselves?
If you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that taking
a specific action will help you tremendously; and
that the converse is also true - not taking that
action will hurt you big time; what is it that stops
us from doing something so obviously in our own interest
(like, for example exercise and good nutrition)?
It's a good question, for sure. But one even the most
sophisticated and accomplished shrinks can't always answer
(it goes well beyond my simplistic 'stubborn, lazy or
stupid' analysis).
We all sabotage ourselves in one way or another.
Fact is, those who do it less - those with greater
self-control and discipline - are those who rise to
the top.
That's the bottom line.
Because there are no external circumstances that can
hold you back if you won't let them. There's only
internal limitations.
"YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT TO BE."
I am blessed to have a friend who doesn't pull any
punches with me. He always challenges me. And years
ago, when I was really struggling and miserable, he
said to me, "You are exactly where you want to be."
"HA! You're kidding, right?"
"You are," he said, "because you took every step to
get exactly where you are now."
I could defend myself on that point all day long.
But the more annoyed and defensive I became, the
more I argued with him, the more I realized one
thing: He was right.
It's not easy to change your mindset from "victim of
circumstance" to "in complete control". And it's
not something that happens overnight. But all it
takes is one tiny seed to begin that transformation.
That in-my-face accusation was the seed of my transformation.
You've probably heard the story about the Harvard
study on goal setting. In 1979, there was a study conducted
on students in the Harvard MBA program. In that year, the
students were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for
your future and made plans to accomplish them?" Only
three percent of the graduates had written goals and
plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in
writing; and 84 percent had no specific goals at all.
Ten years later, the members of the class were
interviewed again, and the findings were illuminating.
The 13 percent of the class who had goals were earning,
on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no
goals at all. And the three percent who had clear,
written goals were earning, on average, TEN TIMES as
much as the other 97 percent put together.
In spite of such proof of success (and the re-telling
of this story so frequently that almost everyone has
heard it multiple times by now), most people still
don't have clear, measurable, time-bounded goals
that they work toward.
Why not?
SABOTAGE
There simply is no other reason imaginable that a
sane person, faced with this evidence, would not
sit down, like NOW, and write out his or her goals
and a clear, systematic plan for achieving them.
When my friend allowed me to see who the culprit really
was, he put me on the path towards the achievement I
wanted more desperately than anything else. I think
it's the path we all want. See, it wasn't about money,
a nice house or a new car, it was about upholding my
promise as a human being, living up to my potential,
doing what I KNEW I could do. It was about
accomplishment and purpose and making an impact.
And in my experience, the only way to fully realize
and manifest that in our lives is by creating a plan
for that achievement and then working that plan.
LIFE BY DESIGN
We can wander aimlessly, buffeted by the winds of
circumstance, or we can set a target, pick a point
on the map and head towards it with determination.
Regardless of where you are right now, you can be,
do and have more by living your life by design. The
tighter you dial it in, the more you work at refining
the plan and working the plan, the more certainty you get.
I like predictability. I like certainty.
How about you?
Make 2009 your best year ever,
Joe Thiel
P.S. Don't get caught up in the details of goal
setting. Don't worry about getting it "just right."
Just get it done and make it a weekly, if not daily
practice. I promise you, nothing will have a more
profound and immediate impact on your life.
I'd really like to hear your comments about goal
setting and achievement. Let me know what you
think.
P.P.S. I'm never too busy for your referrals. Do
you have a friend, family member, or co-worker
who would enjoy my Fitness Empowerment Newsletter?
Forward this issue to them!
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Joe Thiel
Owner, Fitness Together
